Penelope's at The Pie Factory Media City Salford

Firstly, to get to Penelope’s, park on Booth’s car park and walk round (charge= £1.50 for an hour)*  We tried to park on The Pie Factory’s car park but were refused entry.

 

Having noticed a “Café” sign on my way to work one morning, I wasn’t sure whether the place was open to the public, or whether it was just for the media types at The Pie Factory

 

Mensa candidate of the year now realises – yes - Penelope's is open to the public.

 

We were there early doors, Friday morning; I’d seen a photo of the pancakes on twitter, I knew what I wanted straight away. We ordered the said maple syrup pancakes, with added bacon rain. Danny asked for butter instead of maple syrup. We helped ourselves to filter coffee, a mere snip at £1.80 for free refills.

At the counter whilst we were ordering, the very handsome chef told us that Penelope’s pancakes are the best in Manchester. They are number one in Manchester’s Top Ten Pancakes. I believe him.

 

Immediately I sit down, I love the place. Tables and benches on one side, comfy sofas to the other, table football to the middle.

 

Chef politely shouts to us that our food is ready and we collect it from the counter.

 

Food was absolutely bloody lovely. The nicest, lightest pancakes I have ever eaten, bacon was cooked to perfection, nothing chewy about the bacon at all. Just the perfect balance of syrup and savoury. 

Danny tries my syrupy pancakes, he agrees he'll have the same as me next time. 

 

I say to my husband that I could happily stay here all day. My plan would be; eat pancakes, have two coffees, transfer to comfy sofa and read a book whilst having further coffees. Couple of hours later I would move to a table and bench and order lunch, then stay till 2.30 drinking coffee.

I spy a woman at the counter, with a bag emblazoned with the logo, “itv”; whatever she buys is taken away in a brown paper bag

 

A woman at the table in front of ours offers us coffee, we decline and then head off to work.

Penelope's is spectacular. 

(*Park at Anchorage Quay tram stop for an hour free, further to walk from Booth's though)

 

Selo Deli Monton Road Monton Eccles

Monton road, the New Chorlton for the over 40s. I found myself here, on the hottest day of the year 2013. I ordered at the counter and sat beside the door and  waited too long for my Americano. Something caught my eye on my right, a baby crawled past, wearing nought but a nappy. The mother hollering (from her table) for the baby not to go too far, as it was busy main road outside. I half expected the baby to stand up, put its hands on its hips and reply, "It's ok Mother, I know my Green Cross Code". Just as the baby was about to make an escape Mum scooped him up and ran back to her table.

The coffee was very strong and flavoursome, I enjoyed it, even in 80 degree heat.  As I sipped I heard a woman cackling like a magpie.  Her “laughter” startled me so much, I turned around,  I spotted her at a table towards the back of the shop, throwing her head back in mirth. After tipping the last drop of coffee in,  I peeled myself from my seat and asked a passing waitress what kind of coffee they served, her answer went thus;

“Do you know what,  loads of 'em 'av bin tellin' me that this mornin'", she did a quick body shake, shoulders then hips, and said, "I'm thinkin' it's the way a meck it" As she said this she threw her right arm out to the side of her body.  It was more Nellie Pledge than Beyonce. 

As I overheard a woman’s voice pleading, “Say bye bye to Grandma and Grandad”, a serious looking woman then appeared from the kitchen and told me that, obviously, they had their own name on the packets of coffee. She pointed to where they were on the nearby shelf. Nellie Pledge was no where to be seen. 

I still really don’t know what kind of coffee they serve.

I much recommend Selo Deli, I implore you to take yourself there the next time you find yourself on Monton Road.